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[GO Archive]

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[Greater Kossackia]

DIRTY TRICK EXPOSED
FAKE AD FOR PORN ACTRESS LINKED TO OPPONENT'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER

In a stunning development in the continuing saga of the now infamous 'Dirty Trick' ad, Citizens for Barmart which created the video has been linked to Tiasia Storalli, the campaign manager of Ashtyes Barnart's opponent, Georyad Ketgoo.

The ad, which aired late last month, appeared to show the former pornographic actress and Social Justice Party by-election candidate in lingerie calling Ketgoo a "naughty boy" who used "dirty tricks". Barnart's campaign was quick to deny any connection to the ad or that Barnart had ever said any of the things in the ad. Barnart's fans were quick to come to her defense, noting the presence of a tattoo on the upper shoulder which Barnart demonstrated she lacked. Within days, analysts confirmed that the audio was edited from videos made during Barnart's pornography career. Last week, aspiring model Kylenata Mougang came forward as the woman who actually appeared in the advertisement. And now, after digging through financial records, we have determined that Citizens for Barmart, the political group responsible for the ad, is in fact a front group operated by Storalli, who has a long history as a Liberal Democratic Party political operative.

When asked for comment, the Ketgoo campaign said that Storalli's role with the campaign and the Liberal Democratic Party would be "placed under review."

The advertisement sparked controversy due to its sexually suggestive and, at some moments, borderline explicit content. The statement put out by the Barnart campaign after the first airing stated that while Barnart is committed to people being able to express themselves sexually in whatever healthy way that pleases them, she is attempting run a positive campaign on the issues and not get bogged down in character attacks.

[L E F]

The construction of Narco-Submarines- one of the few industries in Al-Meriq

The Kingdom of Al-Meriq is not known for its industrial sector but there's one industry, though very niche and with a low turnover, where Al-Meriq is very competitive: the narco submarine building industry. Few nations (if any) in Greater Olymbus can mach Al-Meriq's free drugs policy, not only is sale of drugs legal here but also the cultivation and production of such drugs, making Al-Meriq a hub for them. However, since so many nations in Greater Olympus have banned drugs, transporting them to customers in those nations is always a challenge.

Here is where the narco-subs building industry comes into play, these self propelled submersibles are specially designed with one task in mind: to carry as much cargo as possible without being detected by law enforcement agencies. Because of the sensitive issue of drugs and the potential involvement of foreign law enforcements agencies, the industry is a discrete one, and you're unlikely to find information about it unless you're specifically looking for it. Under these circumstances, it's no surprise that representatives of the industry refused to give specific details about the submersibles and their capabilities. We did however manage to get some unofficial numbers. It seems that the largest narco submarines can carry up to 5 tons of cargo, have a range of up to 2000 nautical miles and usually have a crew of 4.

While the major nations of Greater Olympus dominate most if not all the major industries, it's nice to see businesses in Al-Meriq takes advantage of the opportunities here and make a niche for themselves. We can only hope more will follow their example in other areas, too.

[L E F]

The trial of the century comes to an end: the members of the Freedom League are found guilty on all counts

The trial of the century, as was called by much of the press in Al-Meriq, comes to an end after six months, making it the one of the lengthiest trials in the history of the kingdom. Less than a year ago, royal procurator issued a statement informing that over two dozen foreign residents have been detained for conspiracy against the natural order in Al-Meriq (abolitionism). In the days that followed official charges have been issued against various citizens of Al-Meriq including a Verro priest (one of the sects of Beoinism, a minority religion in the kingdom), a university professor and a high ranking member of the Varghese clan (a regional clan, present in the Western part of the country) among others. In the end more than 40 people were charged.

During the trial, the public was made aware of a an intricate conspiracy initiated via internet by citizens of various Liran countries whose set goal was the ruination of the natural order in Al-Meriq for ideological reasons. The members of the so called "Freedom League" recruited various specialists that would later seek employment in Al-Meriq with the express purpose of corrupting key citizens to their ideology in order to sabotage a slave detention facility (its name was not made public for security reasons). The organization received funding from various radical ideological individuals and NGOs whose views are aligned with the organization's goals.

The verdict was issued today the DJRC (Department of Justice of the Royal company) and all defendants were found guilty and were immediately sentenced to crippling damages to the affected parties, fines, payment of the cost of trial and the royal procurator's investigation. As Chief Justice Adam Meriq said, the fines were especially harsh because of the gravity of the act. It is expected that the severe penalties will mean the defendants (together with their families) will go bankrupt and be forced into slavery. The Royal Company has made use of their right and claimed preemption on them. Once the defendants will become property of the Royal Company, the royal procurator will have free reign in interrogations which no doubt will provide more information that will help to further understand the complex operation and might reveal further accomplices.

While the trial has ended, its effects will continues to be felt in Al-Meriq as many questions have remained unanswered and will no doubt lead to speculations. Among these is the involvement of the Verro Church in this affair since it is unlikely the hierarchy was not aware of the priest's activities, the vulnerability of the security system in Al-Meriq and the trust that Al-Meriq can put in foreign residents. While their contribution is vital to the development of the country it seems they pose a high security risk. Speculations were fueled by the local Verro Church's reluctance to condemn the action of its priest (in stark contrast with the unequivocal condemnation issued by Varghese clan for the implication of one if its members in the affair) as well as the rather unusual decision by the Royal Company to commute the enforced slavery of the Verro priest to death penalty (he was executed the same day).

Although many questions remained unanswered it seems that extremist ideology that threatens the natural order in Al-Meriq has slipped through the cracks into the wider society with consequences that will be felt further down the road.

[L E F]

The Al-Meriqan and Bnnu armed forces hold joint military exercises

The Al-Meriqan and Bnnu armed forces will hold a series of joint military exercises over the course of the next two weeks. The exercises are an established regular tradition that shows the very close cooperation in terms of defense and security between the two countries.

The DCRC( Deportment of Communication of the Royal Company aka government) issued a statement regarding the exercises noting "the special relation between the two countries, the constant cooperation, support and trust that were built over the course of decades and that will only continue to grow in the future years". The DCRC also noted that "constant training the readiness of the armed forces are key to ensuring the security of the Kingdom of Al-Meriq and kingdom will continue to follow on its policy of peace through strength".

The long tradition of cooperation between the two countries goes back to the days of the independence of the Kingdom of Al-Meriq, more than 70 years ago, and has outlasted several kings and emperors in Al-Meriq and Bnnu.

The exercise was an opportunity for the press to inquire about the potential acquisition from Bnnu of the Usem/Lighting (F23) fighter as a replacement of the current fleet of Ziri/Moonlight (Mirage 4000) fighters. There has been speculation of dissatisfaction among Bnnu counterparts over the aging fleet of Ziri fighters in use by the Al-Meriqan air force as it is believed to be inadequate by current standards. These rumors were dismissed by both parties with the DCRC noting that "the Royal Company is currently analyzing the opportunity to replace the current fleet of Ziri fighters and it is expected they will soon reach a decision".

Whatever the rumors, one thing is clear: the excellent cooperation between the two countries continues and relations are at an all time high.

Ziri (Mirage 4000) fighter in use by the Al-Merian air force

[L E F]

The Abrika clan was officially absorbed today by Mua'Amar clan

Months of speculations regarding the financial health of Abrika clan, a local clan based in the Western part of the country, have come to an end after they were absorbed by the larger Mua'Amar clan. The Abrika, although small in both numbers and financial assets, had a long history and had gathered more prestige than one would expect of such a small clan.

The Abrika was one of the few clans who adhered to the Verro sect of Beoinsim (a minority religion in Al-Meriq), following their conversion almost two hundred years ago during the dark times when the country was under the rule of the Republic of Winst. Many financial analysts believe that their strict adherence to the Verro precepts has been their financial downfall. The clan operated three hotels in the port city of Huriya and was famous for its complete shunning of slavery and employing only free people. Considering the specific type of tourists coming to Al-meriq (focused more on prostitution, gambling and drugs) that approach to business was a major handicap for them. To make matters worse, the Abrika was famous for its generous donations to the Verro Church as well as having a couple of shelters for the homeless. The leader of the Abrika was unable or unwilling to cut those costs even as income dwindled, this all lead to them eventually having negative net assets and thus risk imminent enslavement.

The absorption ceremony might not have been a nationwide event had it not been for the attendance of the representative of the Meriq clan (the ruling clan of Al-Meriq). The decision of the Meriqs to attend was seen as unusual for an event of regional importance at best. Analysts speculate that after the recent "Freedom League" incident, the Meriqs wanted to show support of the natural order in the country. That is because of the symbolic meaning that can be attributed to the ceremony, the absorbing clan is a strong supporter of slavery and a strict adherent of Kastdeti Polytheism (the major religion in Al-Meriq). The Abrika clan members will have to convert to the Kastdeti religion and change their attitude towards slavery, all while the Verro Church will lose an important ally.

The absorbing ceremony, attended by more than 20 clans, respected all the centuries-old traditions of the clans. The ceremony took place in the Mua'Amar leader's palace, in the lavish hall room which was decorated with over a dozen banners belonging to the various clans that Mua'Amars have absorbed over the centuries. In the presence of the various clan guests, the leader of Mua'Amar watched as the leader of the Abrika dropped to his knees, offered the Abrika banner as a gesture of surrender and begged for him and his clan members to be spared the fate of slavery. The Mua'Amar leader asked the kneeling man if he swears allegiance to his new master, leaves behind his old ways and join the religion of his new master. Once the kneeling man had agreed, he was allowed to rise to his feet and was quickly escorted out by the guards. The host and guests then gathered and started dinning.

While it might seem that after the Freedom League incident, those who would ruin the natural order in the country were starting to make inroads, it is days like these that show us the futility of their endeavors.

The banner of the now defunct Abrika clan

The banner of the Mua'Amar clan

[L E F]

The Aderfi Meriq international Airport in Bnnu passes the 200 million passengers mark since it became operational

It was almost eighteen years ago that the Aderfi Meriq International airport in the Empire of Bnnu became operational. The total cost of the project was more than 2 bln dinars (1 dinars=1 USD) and was completed in less than 30 months. One of the major investments aboard by the Meriq clan, the airport was designed and aimed at servicing the passengers that for legal or other reasons could not get a flight route from their home countries to the Kingdom of Al-Meriq and had instead to go to Bnnu first and then to the kingdom.

There have always been jealous governments in Greater Olympus, always willing to ban their citizens' the right to visit foreign countries and some chose to put the Kingdom of Al-Meriq on a ban list because of such frivol issues as allowing slavery. Seeing this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, the Meriq clan negotiated with the government in the Empire of Bnnu and gained the necessary clearings to buy the land and construct the airport. The chosen location was to be close to the outskirts of the Bnnu capital of Sifaks so the airport could rely on the infrastructure there.

After 2 years pf operation the airport managed to break even and has managed to stay that way in all but two of the following years. The airport provided the passages means to get a visa on the spot and worked closely with Al-Meriqan and Bnnu airlines to provide the best possible routes to the Kingdom of Al-Meriq. As a symbol of the cultural and religious ties between Al-Meriq and Bnnu, the airport also features a Beonist chapel(a minority religion in the Kingdom and a majority in Bnnu).

Almost eighteen years after the airport became operational, it has serviced the 200th million passenger, making it one of the busiest airports in the Empire of Bnnu and a vital infrastructure asset of the tourism in Al-Meriq. The success of the airport is not only a boon for the wealth of the Meriq clan or the tourism in Al-Meriq but also a tribute to one of the greatest leaders the Meriq clan has ever had and the founder of the Kingdom: Aderfi Meriq.

The the airport chapel

The Aderfi Meriq international Airport in Bnnu

[Riscelnia]

This is the National Opinion section of the National Beholder. What is written here is not representative of what the National Beholder (NB) or any of its officially associated members thinks; It is simply the opinion of the contributor and should only be treated as such. The National Beholder does not take responisibility regarding what is written in this portion, which instead falls on the contributor.

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National Opinion: Has Nordland not suffered enough already?

Written by 93-time contributor user "eNiGMa"
March 30, 2018

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Welcome back, Listeners!

Yes, I know it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. I have been busy, ok? Looking up all the shady stuff the government does and staying on top of things in order to bring you guys the latest and most accurate information I could find takes time. Ya get me, right?

Anyway, on to today's topic. As you might guess, it concerns Nordland.
Yes, that Nordland. The "big bad government-bribing weapons manufacturing corporation" as the guys over on the Casual will tell you. Those guys.
For newcomers, Nordland was accused of bribing government officials back in 2008 with the intention of selling more SuperFalken fighters. As I wrote back in my very first contribution back in 2011, I have never stopped suspecting the involvement of foreigners in this scandal; It is simply too convenient and the investigation was finished too quickly to have been made properly. Today's events prove my point; According to my sources, the supergovernment is planning on looking abroad for military fighters to replace Skatan. More specifically, at the Carelian Grunder Industries.

What this means is that the big boy government got scared of a tiny little scandal and decided to immediately outsource the job to a foreign corporation at the first hint of trouble. So much for patriotism, huh? The country's largest and most successful corporation is going under whilst the supergovernment sips wine on the bridge. And with the decline of Nordland comes the entire economy.
So what needs to be done? Simple; Ease off the pressure and give Nordland time to recover.

That is all I have to offer on the issue; As of right now, anyway. I'll have more to say later. This enigma has been resolved.

OOC: Here's to hoping it comes across well enough as an opinion piece.

[Al-Meriq]

Lost in translation?

The Sultanate of Al-Meriq has a small but increasing foreign business community and in order to do business they need the help of a translator. Most foreign businesses that we talked to complained about the high cost of hiring one. They are especially puzzled since the Bnnu Empire, who share the same language as Al-Meriq, does not have this same problem.
So we decided to investigate and the reasons we found were not what we expected.
Translators working in Al-Meriq complained about the lack of standardization of our language. We take great pride in our clan identity and often that identity translates to our vocabulary, spelling and even meaning of words in some cases. While this a cultural treasure it seems translators are not so pleased. They complain that translating a contract can take twice as much time than a regular one because they have to consider the background of the parties and research the particularities of each clan dialect. The more obscure the clan the higher the workload.
Searching deeper for the reasons for our diversity of language, we decided to talk to linguists and academia and they seem to be in agreement. The lack of a public school system has allowed us to escape the language standardization that happened in most Greater Olympus countries including Bnnu. Also, the fact that Al-Meriq does not have a national academy to police the language has also helped.
So while translators might complain and the costs for their services might be higher, remember that this is a small price to pay for the freedom to speak and write the same way your ancestors did.

[Al-Meriq]

New temple inauguration in the port city Fao

The city administrator of Fao welcomed the inauguration of a new large temple on the outskirts of the city, saying that the temple will fill some of the demand for spiritual guidance in the city as well as be a potential tourist attraction considering the impressive nature of its design.
The temple's construction started almost a year ago and was entirely financed by the Meriq clan which remained the owners of it. Construction was said to cost more than 50 million dinars (USD). The temple is more the 130 feet (40 m) in height, has a capacity of over 2,500 people and its most prominent features are the 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides.

The temple is dedicated to the patron Goddess of the Meriq clan, Ananke. She is the goddess of compulsion, constraint, and coercion, and presides over all forms of slavery and bonds and as such it is fitting for a city that rose to prominence in the region in large part because of its slave based economy to have such a large temple dedicated to her.
The inauguration ceremony has seen thousands of attendees with prominent regional and even nation figures as guests. Perhaps the most fitting words were said by the High Priestess of the temple:

"The inauguration of the temple dedicated to the feared and respected Ananke is a debt we finally pay for her gracious support and blessings she has bestowed on our country. It is also symbol of our confidence: in OUR Gods, in OUR culture and in OUR economic model. Rejoice, because the dark times of the last century have ended and the dark powers that ravaged the country will never ever return!"

[Al-Meriq]

Gold imports from Empire of Grimnes reach a new high in 2017

The Meriq press office reported today that gold imports have reached new high at almost 3 bln dinars (USD), up 10% from previous years, almost of it was imported from Grimnes.

Gold imports have seen a steady rise in the last few years, with demand being driven mainly by the banking sector and the Meriq Investment Fund (MIF). Bank officials say they are meeting the demands of their clients from aboard. As more and more regulations are passed in other Greater Olympus countries and more activities are becoming illegal, Al-Meriqan banks are always willing offer their potential clients the possibility to exchange some of their money to diamonds, gold and silver. While sadly Al-Meriq lacks any gold deposits, it can rely on neighboring Grimmes it supply it.

On the other hand, the Meriq investment fund has been steadily buying gold of up to 1 bln dinars (USD) for decades. The Meriq press officer has stated that the strategy of the MIF requires to have a minim percentage of its assets invested in gold for reasons related to diversification as well as security. It is for this reasons that the fund has accumulated an impressive amount of gold worth of almost 30bln dinars (USD). The press officer added that unless a significant change in strategy occurs, the fund will continues its steady rate of gold acquisitions.

The financials analysts surveyed by the Meriq Monitor gave mixed opinions about the trend of gold imports in the current years with over 44% expecting to see a decrease, 40% expecting a moderate to low increase and the rest expecting no change. The analysts seem pessimistic about the state of the world economy, the crackdown of law enforcement agencies on organized crime as well as a shift in demand from "traditional" assets like gold, silver and diamonds to virtual currencies. It remains to be seen if their fears will prove founded or not.

[Riscelnia]

O.F.S. seizes record amount of drugs in overnight Zavard warehouse raid

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May 14, 2018 | Zavard, Nordheim | 04:25 | Updated May 14, 14:17

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The Office of Federal Security raided a warehouse in Zavard last night, seizing a record amount of drugs in one raid. The exact amount seized has not been disclosed, but a spokesperson for the OFS Nordheim Department (OFS-ND) has confirmed that at least 50 kg of heroin has been seized. The raid came, like many other raids before it, unannounced, and was targeted at the illegal drug trading ring in Nordheim believed to be sponsored by the government of Al-Meriq.


A police cruiser, partially blurred out, can be seen in the background. TNB was unable to get a good shot of the warehouse itself.

The raid is the latest in a series of raids targeted at undermining the illegal drug trade in Nordheim and Ri'Celnia, ordered directly by Eva Schadel, who was chosen as Director of the OFS on March 25 after her predecessor, Sylvester Blomquist, was dismissed after 20 years on the post due to public outcry against his 'lacking response to the growing drug trade'. On April 2, she launched Operation Breakthrough, which's mission statement was the reduction of organized crime across the nation. The first raid happened on April 5, in Drakhamn.

A majority of politicians have come out in favor of Operation Breakthrough, but critics claim the operation is more a publicity stunt than anything else and has called for its end due to the low efficiency of the drug raids, with only five out of the 24 raids ending with any drugs captured. Some critics also fear that Breakthrough can be used by the OFS to raid any location for no reason, and could be the start of a transition into a police state.

[Al-Meriq]

Pruning for growth- over 20 members were excluded from the Meriq clan

Today, in the garden of the Meriq Palace, the Sultan presided over a short ceremony in which, as leader of the clan, excluded 22 members for various offenses against the clan's traditions and obligations. The individuals were guilty of a series of offenses ranging from gross incompetence to excessive spending, from indolence to propagating abolitionist propaganda. Their ages ranged from 18 to 60, showing once again that regardless of age, some individuals will always put themselves first before their obligations to their clan.

The garden of the Meriq Palace in Djeb

The Sultan provided a brief speech in which the emphasized the need for these measures:

"In the early years after we gained our independence from the Wintonian oppressors, my grandfather noticed that our new found peace and burgeoning prosperity was already beginning to make us weak. When we were in desperate competition to meet the quotas imposed on us by the oppressors, we were forced to act, and each member of the clan had to do its part or we would risk our livelihoods. After the independence however, things started to change. Our youth stated to become rebellious, others had fallen in the temptation of speeding too much in order to impress but, worst of all, were those who had began to fall prey to total indolence, refusing to work and expecting the other members to provide for them. My grandfather decided then that he will swiftly and harshly ban all those who show signs of these cancerous attitudes. He called it "pruning for growth". In order for the clan to continues to grow and flourish , we need to cut loose the elements that hold us back.
So those whose names me mentioned before are to leave now and never to return. We were brothers until today but from now on we are strangers. You are no longer Meriqs and are not allowed to use that name again."

[Al-Meriq]

Sergeant major Aksil Meriq killed in action

Sergeant major Aksil Meriq, 32, was killed in action yesterday while serving his clan and his country as a member of the 2nd battalion of the Special Forces. Aksil had served in the military for 16 years, joining at a young age. Just after reaching 20, he was accepted in the Special Forces where he served continuously until yesterday. Over the course of his entire career, he received three medals for meritorious service in the combat zones and had a confirmed kill record of 52.

Aksil was killed while on mission deep in the Nori continent. The exact location and mission details remain classified but it has been confirmed that his mission in the Nori country consisted of helping private business partners of the Meriq clan protect themselves against abusive searches and confiscations by the government of said Nori country. Aksil and his company were defending a cargo convoy when government forces attacked it without provocation. While the company was able to successfully defend the convoy and cargo, Aksil was killed in the firefight.

Although, Aksil is no longer with us, his legacy leaves on in his two wives, three sons, two daughters and the rest of his clan.
His funeral was attended by many of clan members and was held at the newly inaugurated temple of Ananke, in Fao. The High Priestess personally celebrated the rite and gave a sermon talking about Aksil's service and sacrifice. She asked us "not to reproof Ananke for taking him away from us but to thank her that she graciously gave him to us in the first place".
Aksil body will be held, in an open casket, at the temple for another 24 hour so people can pay their respects. Afterwards, he will be buried in the Meriq cemetery in Djerb

[Al-Meriq]

Djerb annual film festival has announced its nominations for Best Film of 2017

The year 2017 has been a good year for national film productions. While the market remains flooded with Wintonian movies, the local films have mage to carve a niche for themselves and this niche has seen its third consecutive year of growth which is a good sign for our local films producers. The two main candidates for the award for Best Film of 2017 are:

The calling of Anake - sponsor: Ananke Temple Foundation

Despite its name, the film is not religious in nature and is based on the real life event of an immigrant from the Southern neighbor of Grimnes. The movie begins by showing the terrible discrimination experienced by men living in Grimnes and the terrible effects that distrimination had on the men of the Kastdeti community in particular. Alus, the main protagonist, realizes that he will never experience true freedom in Grimnes and decides to emigrate to Al-Meriq despite the fact he was almost penniless and lacked any knowledge of the country. Once in Al-Meriq he is accepted in one of the local rural Hephsat clans. Alus is amazed of the freedom men in Al-Meriq enjoy and take for granted. He works hard, he earns enough to build a house for himself and to provide for wife. The movie could end here and it would have been good enough. However, it continues with Alus experiencing the clan restrictions when he wants to take a second wife. The clan leader wouldn't allow it as the clan was Hephsat and monogamy was strictly enforced. Alus would not take no for an answer and instead decided to leave his clan. Almost half of the clan members followed him. Free of the shackles of the Hephsat faith, he converts back to the Kastdeti faith of his ancestors. He takes another two wives and enters the profitable slave trade (which was also banned by the Hephsat religion). After a few more years, he learns that the clan he left behind is in dire financial situation after two consecutive years of drought. He comes to their rescue and welcomes them into his new clan as long as they convert to the Kasydeti faith. The film ends with Alus thanking Ananke for blessing Al-meriq.
Memorable quotes: "Crossing the border from Grimnes to Al-Meriq was like traveling from the Dark Ages to the future. I just couldn't believe my eyes that less than a hundred miles away from my home things could be so different".

The Dark Age of Wintonian rule - sponsor: Meriq Foundation

This documentary is divided in two almost equal parts. In the first the documentary catalogues some of the worst crimes against humanity that were perpetrated by the Wintonian Republic against the people of Al-Meriq. As the first part is only an hour long it can hardly document all the horrors experienced by our ancestors at the hands of the colonizers.
The second part shows us the legacy left behind by the Wintonian oppressors. Especially the things that are not so apparent at first glance like the colonial code of laws that (while heavily revised and reformed) is still in force today, the architecture of some of our buildings, borrowed words, the bastardisation of some of our given names and the defeatism so prevalent among the older generations.
Memorable quotes: "The Wintonian rule has left a deep mark on our culture and its effects are still felt today. The government of Al-Meriq is duty bound to pursue justice for the victims of the brutal regime and to demand financial compensations from the Plutocratic Republic of Winst."
While we do not know which of the two will be the jury's favorite, we do know that with movies like these, the local film production industry has a bright future ahead.

[Al-Meriq]

The Sultanate of Al-Meriq celebrates 72nd Independence Day

Today marked 72 years since the Sultanate has gained its rightful place among the nations of Olympus, as an independent state, free of the Wintonian oppression. This momentous occasion was celebrated by a military parade in Djerb were ambassadors from almost all Olympus countries took part, as well as numerous personalities from our nation. By far the most important guests at this event, just like in the previous years, have been the Izem Royal Family of the Bnnu Empire.
The parade, as is customary in our lands, featured troops from all branches of the national forces as well as various clan armies or private armies as they are called. It was a rare moment of national unity in a country better known for its clan factionalism. The guests were also pleased with the showed put on by our Air Force, which had two of its squadrons of Ziri/Moonlight (Mirage 4000) fighters fly over and do various demonstrative maneuvers.

Ziri (Mirage 4000) fighter in use by the Al-Meriqan air force

The main point of the day was the speech gave by the Sultan in which he acknowledged the help our country received from our friends and allies of Bnnu:

"History was not kind to the clans and tribes of Al-Meriq. We have learnt the hard way how precious and hard to earn is the right to govern ourselves. We remember today our ancestors who have given everything in those terrible days so we, today can enjoy the freedoms we have. We also remember our Bnnu allies who came to our help when we needed it the most. My grandfather, the first Sultan of our country, used to say that if it weren't for our trustworthy Bnnu allies we would all be speaking Soliçais, the language of our Wintonian oppressors, today. So I would like to personally thank the Bnnu Emperor, which is here today, for the aid his country has given to ours in those troubled days. 72 years have passed but Al-Meriq has not forgotten the help it received and should the need ever arise, Al-Meriq is ready and willing to return the favor. May the Gods bless our great nations!"

[Riscelnia]

The Midnight Creeper sentenced to execution

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May 26, 2018 | Zavard, Nordheim | 10:04

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At the High Criminal Court of Nordheim today, Samuel Drakberg, known also as the "Midnight Creeper", was sentenced to execution a week from now, on June 2, for a multitude of crimes commited between August and October last year.

Drakberg was accused of stalking 17 victims, kidnapping 13 of those, and murdering 4 of the kidnapped victims. All his crimes are said to have been done during the night, thus the nickname. On top of this, when police raided his house on October 21, Drakberg reportedly opened fire on the officers with a full-auto Gvr. m/72 he acquired off of the black market, killing two instantly and injuring four, one of which would later die to his injuries, in the ensuing firefight. Drakberg is then said to have thrown down his rifle when he ran out of ammunition and surrendered on the spot, after which police took him into custody.


The Gvr. m/72 (seen above), was introduced into service with the Sydland Civil Defense Forces (CDF) in 1972, and was used as their main battle rifle until 2005, when it was replaced with the Gvr. m/105.

A trial was quickly held after his arrest, and he was sentenced to execution on November 1. On the request of Mr. Drakberg, his lawyer got the case moved up to the High Criminal Court of Nordheim. Drakberg is later said to have shrugged when asked why he would bother getting the case to a higher court when he himself had not even denied the accusations against him. Yesterday, 25th of May 23:06, the HCC-N declared the previous ruling would stand, and sentenced him to execution on June 2, 10:00. TV5 will be broadcasting the execution live at that time.

[Produzir]

[Valley Green]

Sloosmont Daily Gazette
Fishing Dispute Intensifies
by Emma Martin

Valley Greenian fishing companies have been greatly expanding their operations in the Glaucus Ocean, to great economic benefit to the nation's northern provinces which rely so heavily on the sea for sustenance.

But not all parties are happy with the economic boon. Recently the Vadknessian government arrested several Valley Greenian trawlers, impounding the ships, destroying their catches, and imprisoning the crews for accidentally fishing in their territorial waters. The government was able to secure the release of the crews but their expensive boats remain in the custody of officials in Vadkness. The country's small military has now deployed warships to their southern islands to "protect" territorial waters from Valley Greenian "intrusion." With the government in Van Der Stam also sending warships to protect the Valley Greenian fishermen from such unreasonable aggression only time will tell if the conflict will heat up into an actual shooting war.

Meanwhile, on the home front environmental groups such as Citizens for Environmental Justice are claiming that the rate of fishing in the Glaucus Ocean is unsustainable and could lead to the extinction of several species. Fishing concerns insist that they fish at sustainable rates and use humane methods that minimize bycatch.

The National Sciences Institute released a statement saying that the Glaucus Codfish and the Silver Tuna which is also fished from the area are keystone species and are instrumental to the functionality of the oceanic ecosystem. The Commerce Guild says that the fish are key to our economy.

Even if the military buildup doesn't lead to armed conflict the movements of environmentalists who preach direct action such as Aswan Pluto (who has an been arrested for sabotaging fishing nets and assaulting hunters), who continue to flock to the islands of Vadkness indicates that a campaign of good old-fashioned piracy and even more old-fashioned political maneuvering is on the way.

[Winst]

Tradusland and Ludovico International Costly Cruise Ship Crash

Valais, Winst
By George Telon

Tradusland and Ludovico International brand new cruise ship the Sinfonia Dos Mares has run aground here along the banks of the Vesil River. The brand new oceanic cruise ship seems to have run into problems, when it choose to travel up the Vesil River. The ship ran aground shortly into its journey as the ships hull lodged itself in the shallow banks of the Vesil River. Luckily only a few injuries were reported mostly due to the ships sudden stop. Damage to the Valais River Waterfront is extensive. The Nearby boardwalk has suffered major flooding as the river's current has been effected by the new barrier and the ships displacement. The cost for both removal and repair are figured at a massive sum due to necessary dredging and board walk repair with an estimated cost of 1.9 Billion Holds. However, by far the most expenses cost incurred by the company is the repair of the nearby Tolcom Bridge. The cruise ship destabilized the foundation of the Bridge and will most likely need to be removed. The bridge originally built in 1926 has long been held as a masterful work of the Post-Olympic Style and served as an iconic landmark of the city. Work to preserve and restore the bridge to its foundation will most likely require extensive work and rebuilding.

Tradusland and Ludovico International had only just recently finished construction on a new oceanic cruise ship landing along Relias Bay, after many set backs and delays. The Sinfonia Dos Mares was meant to be the company's star attraction. Although not yet set for any specific runs, the ship was brought to Valais for the CXIVth Jubilee of the Ages celebration. There has been no word yet from the company on how this mishap occurred. T&L's future is uncertain after such a costly mistake.

[Volcanu]

MRV News
Earthquake Swarms under Mount Thialin
Scientists at the Volcanu Geological Survey have detected a swarm of 200 earthquakes under Mount Thialin this week. The earthquake magnitudes range from 0.9 M to 2.3 M which pose no threat to the surrounding area. The VGS has stated the earthquake swarm does not mean that Mount Thialin will erupt and is normal activity for the area.

[Produzir]

Produz Broadcasting Company, EdRP
Riot at Alton Energy Stadium
by Julio Barros

Riots broke out at 6:15pm outside Alton Energy Stadium in Santa Vera a few miles northeast of downtown Aatream. On July 11th, the Aatream Green Jackets played the Drakneir Cavaliers at Alton Energy Stadium, the home field of the Green Jackets. Draknier scored 7 unanswered points and Green Jackets fans started to head to the parking lot before the game was even over. The game ended 7-0 Cavaliers.

Shortly after the game ended the anger turned violent including multiple injuries. Videos and photos show looting, cars overturned, street lights toppled, fights, and extensive property damage. 6 people fell when they climbed on top of the Rego-Dalgarno hotel awning and it collapsed.

The Aatream police scanner even included reports of police horses stolen, an off-duty cop arrested, bottles thrown, and assaults. There was even an unconfirmed rumor that an ostrich had been stolen from the local zoo.

It's unclear how much damage occurred, and numbers aren't immediately available for arrests and injuries. Most of the incidents occurred along 121 Alton Street, where fans young and old booed in an area packed with green and white jerseys for nearly half a mile. Surprisingly, this wasn't as bad as the 2004 World Championship loss.

[Lykens]

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Presidential Convention date set by Grand Assembly

07/20/2018

- Lourdes Varela

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The intended venue for the important event

The Presidential Convention has been scheduled for December 15, 2018, starting exactly seven years after the previous gathering which elected incumbent President of the Federal Republic, Nicolás Gonzales. Many pundits and analysts had expected the convention to be scheduled for this Summer when the Grand Assembly adjourns for its annual summer recess. This has led to speculation that incumbent State Counselor, Kenneth Diaz, plans to seek an early election, two years before the mandate of the current Assembly runs out.

SC Diaz has come under fire by opposition parties for serving without being elected by the electorate, having succeeded former State Counselor Matéo Rodriguez almost a year ago. Rodriguez relinquished his post after a year long battle with lung cancer took a turn for the worst, dying several months later. Since then, the Diaz Government has faced jabs of illegitimacy lobbed by the opposition parties, especially the Fatherland Union, since taking power. So far, the State Counselor has kept his cards close to his chest, not signalling his intentions but continuing with implementing the agenda Rodriguez was elected on, always countering claims of illegitimacy with his desire to advance the vision Rodriguez espoused.

What is known for certain however, is that elections for the 500 directly elected delegates, allotted by states based on their population, and the selection of the 500 state politicians who go to the City of Lykens later this year and vote. Elected delegates are required to run as independents and refrain from endorsing specific candidates or parties for the Presidency, while state politicians divvy up their bloc by the makeup of state legislatures. Almost all State Premiers attend the Convention with their cabinet and other members of their respective state legislature. With several state elections coming up in the upcoming month, the political makeup of the state politician bloc is unpredictable and anyone's guess, although recent polls suggest it could be skewed heavily towards the ARP.​

[Riscelnia]

Haubtverke disavows the mandate on religion for government officials

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July 29, 2018 | Simonshamn, Haubtverke | 11:15

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At 22:25 yesterday, the Haubtverke Parliament officially voted to repeal Article 7 of the Haubtverkian Constitution of 1893, which declared aeric be the only religion allowed to be practiced by government officials. Despite its status in the constitution, it is most likely the least enforced law in the entire A.R.N; In 2017, only one person (police officer Ernhard Muller) was charged with breaking Article 7, who was later freed when the court, facing popular pressure to let the crime go, decided to dismiss the case on November 7. When the case was dismissed the Haubtverkian Parliament held a constitutional amendment session, where it was decided in a 33 for and 3 against vote to repeal the article entirely, passing the 17-for barrier necessary to start the process to change the constitution. The proposal was then scheduled for a public vote on March 11, in accordance with Article 1 of the federal constitution, which mandates all laws that affect any constitutional laws in any of the member republics go to a public vote before it can be approved.

On March 11, the proposal went to public vote. With 74% voter participation, the proposal was passed with 93% for and 7% against. Finally, it was scheduled for a confirmatory vote in the Haubtverkian Parliament, where a 25-for vote was necessary to pass it. With a 32 for and 4 against, Article 7 was officially repealed from the Haubtverkian Constitution.

Simon Norén, the Parliamentary Spokesman for the Parliament, was unable to be reached for comments, citing the repeal of Article 7 to not be of note enough to warrant his time any more than needed.